Richard Manders Ross, Jr. 94, Bradenton and formerly Holmes Beach, Fla. died on Sunday, June 2, of natural causes. Richard was born on Nov. 21, 1918 in Indianapolis, where he spent his childhood.

He was a member there of Fairfax Christian Church and attended Arsenal Technical High School. He attended Indiana University for a short period of time meeting Alice Jeanette Grandstaff. Shortly after their marriage in 1940, they moved to North Manchester, and became members of Zion Lutheran Church. He enlisted into the Army in Aug. 7, 1944 and was assigned to the 30th Division. He was discharged after the war was over on Dec. 20, 1945.

He was the owner of several laundries, was a commission agent for the former Railway Express Co (REA), owned a Gas Stations/newsstands and ran a Montgomery Ward Catalog store. After making many trips to Florida and realizing that was where they wanted to move, they became members of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in 1983. In 1984, they sold everything in Manchester and moved permanently to Holmes Beach, Fla. He worked part time for Christie's Plumbing Co. on the island. On Oct. 5, 1992 his wife died and he later moved to Freedom Village in 2005.

They enjoyed traveling not only to Florida but made trips all over the Indiana Territories, Hawaii, Seattle and Europe. He even flew on the Concorde once to Europe.

Richard was a member of Kiwanis International and American Legion, Deming Lodge No. 88, York Rite No. 1845, North Masonic Jurisdiction; Fort Wayne, Order of Eastern Star, and the Gulf Shrine Club. He was a volunteer for the North Manchester Fire Department.

He will be missed by his family and friends and all who knew him.

Richard is survived by his three children: Jeanette Ann Piott, Puyallup, Wash.; James Richard Ross, Shelbyville; George Manders Ross, Fitchburg, Wisc. He also had five grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren, along with 12 nieces and nephews and several cousins and friends.

Memorial services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 9, 2013 at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 6608 Marina Dr, Holmes Beach, FL 34217. Pastor Rosemary Backer, will officiate and a private interment service will be in the Memorial Church Garden.

Arrangements by Grandstaff-Hentgen Bender Chapel, North Manchester.

The memorial guest book for Richard may be signed at www.grandstaff-hentgen.com.